A business credit file is tied to your company, not your Social Security number. Suppliers, landlords, lenders and larger customers can check it before they extend terms. Building it takes time, so starting early helps.

Commercial Terms

Independent Underwriting

Personal Insulation

Suppliers and trade vendors reference established commercial files to grant net-30 and net-60 payment options without requiring upfront cash.

Commercial landlords and lending institutions assess the corporate entity independently, establishing business credibility on public records.

Building corporate credit isolates business obligations, insulating personal credit utilization and shielding personal financial profiles.

The Sequence

Form the Entity and Get an EIN

Open a Dedicated Bank Account

Your LLC needs its own Employer Identification Number from the IRS. The IRS issues EINs at no charge, so be wary of sites that charge for them.

Open a business bank account in the LLC's name. Keep business income and expenses out of your personal accounts. It makes records cleaner and shows the business operates on its own.

Maintain Consistent Business Records

Check and Request D-U-N-S Number

Choose one name, address and phone number, and use them everywhere. Credit bureaus and lenders compare these details across your state filing, bank, website and credit profiles. Mismatches can slow approvals, so decide deliberately which address is your public business address.

Check for, then request, your D-U-N-S number. Search D&B's lookup tool first so you don't create a duplicate record. If you're not listed, the application is free. Normal processing can take up to 30 business days, and expedited delivery, which costs a fee, takes up to eight. The form asks for your legal business name, address, phone, owner name, legal structure, year created, industry and employee count.

Add Reporting Vendor Accounts

Monitor and Correct Your File

Add vendor accounts that report. Some suppliers offer net-terms accounts and report payments to business credit bureaus, and some don't. Ask before you apply. Start small and pay on time or early.

Monitor and correct your file. Check what's reported about your business and fix errors through D&B's business information update page.

What D-U-N-S Does and Doesn't Do

Common Mistakes

• Applying for credit before the business's name, address and phone match across records.

It gives your business a unique nine-digit identity in D&B's database. D&B says many large companies ask for one on supplier or credit applications, and many government agencies require one from contractors.

• Using your personal accounts for business expenses.

• Assuming every vendor reports to the bureaus.

• Paying for services that promise instant business credit.

It isn't legally required for most businesses, and it doesn't create credit or guarantee funding on its own.

If you're at step 4, check D&B's free D-U-N-S process. D&B also sells paid products for monitoring and building business credit. Compare them against what you actually need before you buy.

This guide is general information for business owners, not legal, tax or financial advice. Results vary.